A textbook designed for both the criminalist and the field investigator, this book presents what the author considers to be the minimum essentials that should be understood by all investigators. The subject matter includes police investigative equipment, the collection of physical evidence, casts and replicas, fingerprints, tracks and trails, and photography. Another group of topics includes the preliminary examination of microscopic evidence, clothing and cloth, fibers, ropes, cordage and packaging material and hair. Blood is discussed from the viewpoints of physical investigation, general testing and individual factors. The author goes on to examine other body fluids, cosmetics, crystalline evidence, special chemical evidence, paint, glass, soil, metals, plastics and vegetable materials. The text concludes with chapters on poisons, drugs, alcohol, tool marks, firearms, vehicular accidents, vehicular impact evidence, physical evidence from fires and explosions as well as questioned documents. The photographs that illustrate the text are noteworthy for their clarity and propriety.